The Lower Magdalena River Valley History

History

By Richard McColl

Originally inhabited by indigenous tribes prior to the arrival of the Spanish, current settlements are defined in this part of the Magdalena River Valley by the lack of hostility the indigenous had towards their intruders.

As the empire flourished, the main highway from principal towns and ports on the Caribbean coast was, of course, fluvial and everything from silver pulled from the mines in Potosi to contraband from the Caribbean Islands passed through these waters. In the drive for Independence all of the towns along the Lower Magdalena were pivotal in Simon Bolivar's push for separation from Spain. Since Mompos and other settlements arguably gained more income through contraband, something which the Spanish crown was intent on curtailing; they quickly sided with the Venezuelan born liberator and joined the fight. Later, towards the end of the Republican era in Colombia the Magdalena started to change its course, silt levels rose and many branches became impassable for the old paddle steam boats. The importance of the river as a major highway diminished. Towns that were formerly at the heart of trade routes became backwaters and were left in isolation. In more contemporary years, the Lower Magdalena has seen its fair share of violence from paramilitaries and left wing guerrillas, and Barrancabermeja in particular has been at the heart of the struggles, where in the recent years the paramilitary have made their presence felt.